Croatia defends plans for nuclear waste disposal centre

Croatia’s plans to establish a nuclear waste disposal centre have been scrutinised after Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Minister Staša Košarac accused Croatia of violating European regulations and standards.

Josip Lebegner, the director of the Fund for Financing the Decommissioning and Disposal of Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant, refuted these claims, saying Croatia is in full compliance with EU regulations.

In an interview with EURACTIV, Lebegner emphasised that Croatia’s construction of the Center in Čerkezovac is still in its early stages and that the country must inform Brussels only six months before the building permit is issued.

He reassured that safety measures would be of the highest standards, and Croatia intends to dispose of a fifth of its low and medium radioactive waste from NE Krško by exporting it to a third country before the Čerkezovac warehouse is operational.

The construction of the waste disposal centre near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina has faced opposition from both Bosnian and Croatian local authorities.

Minister Košarac has requested a meeting with the EU’s high representative for foreign and security policy, Josep Borrell, to express his concerns and called on the European Union to prevent the facility’s construction.

However, Lebegner clarified that Croatia has communicated and coordinated with Bosnia and Herzegovina on multiple levels, including professional discussions and information sharing.

“Minister Košarc’s statement that Croatia violates European regulations and standards is wrong. Croatia does not violate any regulations or standards. We invited Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the process of cross-border consultations and to publicly state which topics they want the Environmental Impact Study to cover. Thus, BiH is formally included in establishing the Center for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste,” Lebegner told EURACTIV.

Regarding the involvement of the European Commission, Lebegner stated that it closely monitors Croatia’s programme for the construction and management of final landfills and adherence to safety standards. He explained that Croatia must cooperate with the Commission, but the process follows a specific timeline. The European Commission’s approval is required six months before the construction permit is issued.

“It is possible if there are objections that would be justified, indeed. However, in the past year that I have been at the head of the Fund, I have not received a single reasoned objection from the BiH side,” he added.

Lebegner acknowledged the concerns raised by local communities and environmental protection associations, such as Green Action, about the suitability of the Čerkezovac location due to its geological, hydrological, and ecological characteristics.

“I absolutely understand the opposition because there is no local community that would accept such a project wholeheartedly. This is a completely normal reaction, and what we have to do is constantly educate the public.”

He emphasised the importance of continuous public education and engagement. Lebegner referred to the experience of similar European facilities, where local communities have benefited economically, and residents’ concerns have been addressed.

He added that “from these specific conversations between the heads of municipalities and farmers, it was shown that with time, such a project was very well received,” adding, “if there was even the slightest danger to the environment and people’s health, this kind of project could not be realised.”

Responding to fears of contamination of drinking water and the Una River, Lebegner outlined the safety measures in place; The waste will be stored in reinforced concrete containers, and thorough analyses have been conducted to ensure no release of radionuclides will occur in adverse events. The risk of seismic activity and earthquakes has also been considered in the facility’s design and construction.

While local authorities in Dvor expressed concerns about further population decline, Lebegner sees the project as an opportunity to stimulate economic activities in the region. Although the warehouse will only provide around 20 jobs, Lebegner emphasised that national-level projects and funds would be directed to the municipality to support the local economy and mitigate the demographic challenges.

“I see the Center project as an opportunity to start certain economic activities, and I think that precisely the lack of business activities is a much greater reason for emigration,” he concluded. (Goran Ivanovic | EURACTIV.hr)